141 disclosing how and by whom he was assisted in escaping from Sharjah. He purposely avoided following car tracks going to Batinah, Muscat, in his journey to Manei’i as he was afraid that he would be chased by motor cars. He chose Nabaibigh as the first place of halt since it was surrounded by high and steep sand hills over which cars could not climb. He posted guards in Wadi el Qur near the entrance to Wadi Manei’i for the inspection of all trucks that pass through the Wadi. His future plans are not known. As he settled in Manei’I, Sheikh Sultan bin Salim dismissed the men that had escorted him, including Salih Bal Irshad, who reported everything in great detail to the Political Agent, Jasim nin Muhammad, as soon as he made it back to Sharjah. Saleh reported that Sheikh Sultan bin Salim had bandaged his left shoulder and alleged that he had sustained a slight wound. He added that all the men who met Sheikh Sultan bin Salim after leaving Sharjah, including himself, had seen the bandage but not the actual wound. The Political Agent, Jasim bin Muhammad was quick to write to the Political Agent in Bahriain that Sheikh Sultan bin Salim, by branding and bandaging his shoulder, intended to support his argument that he had fired only after he had been fired on and wounded. Jasim bin Muhammad also added that after Sheikh Sultan bin Salim had threatened to kill him before his escape in Sharjah no blood was seen on his clothes. Sheikh Sultan bin Salim was never arrested in Manei’i as the area was in such an invulnerable position that an open attack on it would inevitably have resulted in a heavy loss on the side of the attackers. And to be sure regarding the whereabouts of Sheikh Sultan bin Salim, the English sent spies to gather information. They were told that Sheikh Sultan had left for Muscat.4 It was then decided that punitive measures against the Ruler of Sharjah needed to be taken owing to his lack of cooperation in an issue relating to the attempt on the life of the Political Agents in Bahrain and Sharjah, as the English alleged. Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr was to asked to agree to the exile of his brother Muhammad bin Saqr to Bahrain.5 4 I.O.R./R/15/1/286, pp.38−40. 5 B.L./F.O.68352,E12871, p.45. THE PUNISHMENT OF THE CITY
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